REFUGEE

Following is an abstract from a speech made by Hon Maithreepala Sirisena, the Minister of Agriculture and the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party;

Quote;
The government yesterday claimed that military commanders had never challenged their Commanders in Chief in Sri Lanka’s history and General Sarath Fonseka would never succeed in his attempt to replace President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming Presidential Election as the former CDS did not have a proper CV to become the President.

Addressing the first Presidential Election-related news

briefing at the Mahaweli Centre, SLFP General Secretary and Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena in the government’s first response to General Fonseka’s candidacy said no one could compare the responsibilities and duties of a President with the duties of a head of a Rural Development Society, Buddhist Society or Sports Club.

“A person who aspires to become the head of a democratic country requires political acumen and experience on democratic values. General Fonseka does not have both credentials and he unfit to become the President of this country. He is only a military officer who won the war against terrorism on the guidance and direction of President Rajapaksa with the assistance of the commanders of the Navy and Air Force and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. He does not have a monopoly on the war victory of which there are so many stakeholders,” Minister Sirisena said.
Unquote;
If the Honorable Minister reads through the Sri Lankan history, I am sure he can find instances where the kings were challenged by their military commanders. Even if it has not happened at all, the Honorable Minister’s argument on the CV of General Fonseka not being proper to become the leader of the country is one of the most hilarious arguments in the recent past in Sri Lankan history, if that is not the most hilarious. Knowing very well the CVs of the politicos in Sri Lanka, including the one of the Honorable Minister himself, we have nothing else to do, other than laughing the guts out.

Beside that point, it is highly pertinent to note what has happened since 1948 in a vibrant democracy in the world, which is Israel. Readers may have heard and read why the former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had to go home leaving the premiership. It was a “simple” case of taking an air ticket from a Non-Governmental Organization for his wife, while he was the Mayor of Jerusalem. I said it is “simple” in comparison with what is going on in Sri Lanka, not because that it was the right thing.

However, Israel has had twelve Prime Ministers since 1948. The executive head of the country is the Prime Minister who is answerable to the parliament (Knesset) and of course to the Law Enforcement authorities unlike in our paradise island. Out of the twelve prime ministers six had been military leaders in Israel. Following is the list;

1. Mr.Levi Eshkol – 1963 to 1969 - First Director General of Ministry of Defense

2. Mr.Yitzhak Rabin - 1974 to 1977 and 1992 to 1995 – Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces
(IDF), 27 years of service with IDF

3. Mr.Shimon Peres - 1984 to 1986 and 1995 to 1996 and the present President of the country
- Head of Israel Navy in 1948
- 1953-1959 – Director General of the Ministry of Defense

4. Mr.Benjamin Netanyahu – 1996 to 1999 and the current Prime Minister had been an Elite
Commando who took part in many an operations in the
Battle front

5. Mr.Ehud Barak - 1999 to 2001 and the current Minister of Defense
Head of IDF Intelligence Branch in 1983
Deputy Chief of Staff – 1987
14th Chief of the General Staff – 1991 and a Lt. General
The highest rank in Israel military

So, it is up to you Lanka News Web readers to decide whose CV is the most appropriate to be the leader of Sri Lanka, whether it is the incumbent President Mahinda Rajapakse's or that of General Sarath Fonseka who has had a distinguished track record in education and military performance.